Cutting Perspex

I've got some 4mm Perspex from work that I need to cut to fit into the greenhouse to cover some missing panes. What would be the best way to do it please?

The old man said to use a wood saw and do long shallow cuts as this Perspex is quite old so possibly quite brittle. Would a hacksaw be better? He also mentioned it would be best not to use a jigsaw on it in case it bounced and shattered the Perspex.

Thank You

 

Don't use jigsaw, a fine tooth hand saw should be ok, were you are going to cut put some masking tape there as this will help it not to shatter and you can see the line better to cut, if you have a spare bit of perspex try a few cuts first
were you cut, make sure it's close as pos to the edge of the work bench

 

Thanks for that Jiffy, JWK I did think of doing that but with the Perspex possibly being brittle it could go wrong. There's only one way to find out I guess...

 

I use a Stanley knife and a straight edge.

 

Try it on some small offcuts using the finest toothed saw you have after scoring both sides. My father used to have the equipment at work to cut, polish/bevel edges, drill, countersink and engrave Perspex (on the back so reverse characters and fill either black white, etc.) and I found it a PITA to do anything myself. I assume this is actually 'Perspex' and not acrylic sheet which is much easier to cut.

If these replacement sheets are for the side abutting the shed, I'd not be inclined not to bother too much with them as I'd go with Kristen's suggestion of boarding/insulating that side, and I'd line it on the inside with Mylar/white sheeting that will reflect light back and make your greenhouse lighter than if using glazing next to that shed (the wall of which will 'absorb' most of the light that hits it).

 

You could use a tile cutter if you have one.

 

Pay the man down at the plastics shop to do it with his mighty guillotine.

 

My old man might have one actually, I know he's definitely got a mitre saw which could work possibly.